At least three foreign nationals have died, and 17 others have been injured in a massive explosion near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan.
Local media reports indicate that the incident occurred late Sunday night and was reportedly caused by an improvised explosive device.
The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed the deaths of two Chinese citizens who were working on the Port Qasim nuclear power project.
The attack, which has been claimed by a separatist militant group, marks a troubling escalation in violence targeting foreign nationals in Pakistan, particularly those involved in infrastructure projects backed by China.
All injured individuals were transported to Jinnah Hospital for emergency treatment. The regional interior minister, Zia Hassan Najar, stated that an investigation is underway, with authorities reviewing security camera footage to determine the specifics of the blast. Initial reports suggest that the explosion was caused by a homemade bomb.
China is a key economic partner for Pakistan, heavily investing in various infrastructure projects.
However, these developments have led to growing resentment among some local groups, resulting in targeted attacks against Chinese citizens.
The Sindh government reported that a tanker truck exploded on the highway leading to the airport at approximately 11:00 PM.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, asserting that it targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors arriving from Karachi airport. The explosion also injured a third Chinese national and several Pakistanis.
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